Money Moms, Gay Support for Obama and More in Capital Eye Opener: May 9

Your daily dose of news and tidbits from the world of money in politics:

MOMS OPENING UP THE CHECKBOOK: Mothers, of course, donate considerable amounts of money to political candidates and causes each election cycle.

When federal campaign finance disclosure forms prompt them for their occupation, however, almost all of them list a profession other than “mother,” from doctor to small business owner to the more domestic-sounding “homemaker” and “housewife.”

But as Mother’s Day passed Sunday, a moment of recognition to the handful of moms who proudly announced their mom-ness to the world last election cycle. In all, people identifying themselves simply as “mom” or “mother” together donated $23,329 to federal-level political candidates, parties and committees, the Center for Responsive Politics’ research indicates.

These self-disclosed moms heavily favored Republicans, with $14,170 of that sum going to GOP interests. More than $6,400, meanwhile, went to Democrats, with the rest of the cash donated to committees not directly affiliated with a political party.

Beneficiaries of identifiable mom bucks include entities such as the Democratic National Committee, Republican National Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee, Moveon.org and the Club for Growth Action.

Look up political donors’ occupations yourself using OpenSecrets.org’s donor look-up tool, found here.

GAY DONORS BOOSTING OBAMA: President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign is banking on gay donors to make up the cash it’s losing from other groups of wealthy supporters who have been alienated and disappointed by elements of Obama’s first term, reportPolitico‘s Ben Smith and Maggie Haberman.

The Politico duo writes this morning:

Pleased by an all-out White House push to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” gay donors have surprised campaign officials with the extent of their support. And the campaign’s new fund-raising apparatus appears designed to capitalize on their enthusiasm: Obama’s finance committee included one gay man in 2008; there are 15 this year, a source said.

Obama has already made two fund-raising swings — one to California, the other to New York — where his support among gays is particularly strong.

A NEW YORK STATE OF MINE: We frequently note how lobbying at the federal level continues to increase, year after year.

The same is holding true in the nation’s third most populous state, as lobbying in New York last year topped $200 million for the first time ever, the Associated Pressreports.

Citing a study by the state’s Commission on Public Integrity, entities angling for a slice of the state’s attention, resources or cash together spent $213 million in 2010, compared to $198 million in 2009.

Media Contact

Viveca Novak
(202) 354-0111
press@crp.org

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